Should there be a support group to redirect AAMs to?

[PorcelainLark]

More than once, people claiming to be AAMs have come here looking for support. I know there's MAP club, which gives a space to underage MAPs. Obviously, for reducing risk, a group like that wouldn't be run by MAPs, preferably by professional therapists or social workers. It would be useful to have a place to redirect AAMs to.

I also might suggest having an specific statement in the rules of Mu against AAMs asking for advice on how to meet MAPs, given how often it happens.

[Jim Burton]

We are discussing site security in the moderators group, and one suggestion has been to better use site data to determine who is and who is not a fake. Repeated offenders could then be blocked, reducing the number of unnecessary threads.

This would also be an issue for any support group dedicated to AAMs - i.e. the constant flow of fantasists pretending to be AAMs, and the ethical implications of mixing them with minors. B4U-ACT has removed forum members who created elaborate back stories to live out their fantasies in real time, and Yesmap has been faced with a constant barrage of accounts whose stated intent is to share prohibited images, despite the clearly stated terms of the server.

Rather concerningly, there are actual fediverse instances where users openly solicit prohibited images and meetings between adults and minors. This happens despite the fact mainstream socials and dark web applications are used for these things. Unfortunately, this could lead to server seizures and the arrest of multiple users; there is no historical knowledge of how similar communities such as BoyLover.net were taken down decades ago, and the owners of said servers have not taken the hint after their domain properties have been confiscated multiple times.

[PorcelainLark]

We are discussing site security in the moderators group, and one suggestion has been to better use site data to determine who is and who is not a fake. Repeated offenders could then be blocked, reducing the number of unnecessary threads.

Fair enough.

This would also be an issue for any support group dedicated to AAMs - i.e. the constant flow of fantasists pretending to be AAMs, and the ethical implications of mixing them with minors. B4U-ACT has removed forum members who created elaborate back stories to live out their fantasies in real time, and Yesmap has been faced with a constant barrage of accounts whose stated intent is to share prohibited images, despite the clearly stated terms of the server.

Makes sense. Although, I was kind of wondering if you could pass on that responsibility to another organization to deal with. I kind of think AAMs are a bit beyond the scope of MAP-focused organizations to deal with.

Rather concerningly, there are actual fediverse instances where users openly solicit prohibited images and meetings between adults and minors. This happens despite the fact mainstream socials and dark web applications are used for these things. Unfortunately, this could lead to server seizures and the arrest of multiple users; there is no historical knowledge of how similar communities such as BoyLover.net were taken down decades ago, and the owners of said servers have not taken the hint after their domain properties have been confiscated multiple times.

In the long run, do you think you might have to ban users claiming to be AAMs?

[Jim Burton]

The likelihood is that we don't ban minors until some law in a major jurisdiction such as the US forces our hand. We are more likely to have enhanced "good faith" requirements for minors. This might be to prevent identification as an AAM while they are on moderation, or to ban them for flirting or appearing to solicit adults.

[FairBlueLove]

I understand the issue with possible fake AAMs, but I think it is important to have an open discourse with real AAMs, and I always found the uniqueness of this forum on this regard as a big step forward.

The sad bit, is that a very small fraction of these supposed AAMs engaged in discussions after just introducing themselves.

[Outis]

I don't know about a support group but I'd be interested to know how many minors would consider themselves AAMs if they knew the term.
When I was a kid I was horny for several teachers, the woman next door and several adults I knew, as well as being attracted to girls younger than me and my own age. If I was told that minors attracted to adults are AAMs I would have said that describes me, just not exclusively.